Why Do Babies Have Smelly Feet?

Anthony Caserta, podiatrist at AJC Podiatry, on sweaty baby & toddler feet:

"I had a great discussion with the staff recently and one of the queries they raised as a common concern from parents centred around “Would my child’s feet sweat more in these?” and “My child’s feet already smell, would these make them worse?”

One of the skin's many important roles is to expel excess heat from our body. The body does this by perspiration and evaporation. So, it’s normal for children, adolescents and adults to sweat. Normal, healthy sweating is caused by increased temperatures, physical activity, emotional stress, particular food intake and illness. There are more sweat glands on the sole of the foot than any other part of the human body and we have about 250,000 sweat glands on the feet.

Children will sweat 2-3 times more than adults and in combination with a larger surface to mass ratio in children. It means there is a lot of excess moisture hanging around those little toes, getting soaked up by socks and footwear. But sweat doesn’t actually smell, so why do some feet stink? This is from the bacteria that is living on the sole of the feet that can accumulate and break down in socks, shoe liners and between toes and gives off that foul odour."

HOW DO I GET RID OF MY BABY'S STINKY FEET?

Here are some tips:

1. Keep their feet clean: It might sound simple, but given their feet a soapy scrub daily will remove excess odour

2. Wear the right socks: If you put socks on your baby, make sure they're made of lightweight and breathable fabric such as cotton, wool or special knits. (Hint: Our socks work a treat!).

3. Make sure your baby's shoes are sized correctly: Tight shoes increase foot odour due to lack of circulation. Click here to check your baby's foot size if you're unsure.

4. Use odour eaters: Odour eaters are safe for children and there are many brands around that you can use in small amounts in your baby's shoes

5. Wash your shoes regularly: We recommend washing shoes regularly to ensure foot odours are removed. Baby shoes like Attipas are fully machine washable; click here to watch how easy it is to clean them. Let them hang to dry in the sun to kill excess bacteria.

6. Wear insoles: Wearing insoles may help prevent foot odour in babies and toddlers. You can buy them here, or cut your own out from regular adult insoles.

Are you struggling to get shoes on your baby?

The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.

Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard. 

As Seen at the Oscars!

Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.

Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!

While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking.  And the evidence is clear.

Attipas baby shoes come in six sizes and can be worn from 6 months to 4 years. They start from $39.95 and are sold on the Attipas Australia website.

Attipas baby shoes come in over 50 colours in an identical design that slips on like a sock but supports like a shoe. Bestsellers include Attipas Sneaker: cute, sneaker-style shoes that look like traditional Converse; Attipas Rainbow: unisex, bright and bold stripes that match any outfit; Attipas Attibebe: soft pastel tones, a favourite for girls; and Attipas Marine: cute nautical themed pre-walkers, a favourite for boys.

Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”

“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.” 

Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.

Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.

At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.

In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.

Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.

What our customers are saying about us...

“We bought these for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria

All Attipas Products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious families.

We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA.  They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.

Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.